Perth have a very chequered history against the Mariners, winning just two of a total of 19 matches between the two teams over the journey.
Date: Friday December 23
Kick-off: 7:00pm AWST, 10:00pm ADST
Venue: nib Stadium
Head-to-head
Played 19: Wins: Central Coast 12, Perth 2, Drawn:5
Previous encounter
Central Coast Mariners 2, Perth Glory 1, Bluetongue Stadium, October 2011
History:
Perth have a very chequered history against the Mariners, winning just two of a total of 19 matches between the two teams over the journey. Their last win over the Mariners came in January 2010, while their only other win was back in September 2006. In their most recent encounter, the Glory took an early lead through Travis Dodd before goals from Matt Simon and Bernie Ibini-Isei saw the Mariners home.
Form:
Past five matches:
Perth Glory: DLWLL
Central Coast Mariners : WWWWW
Summary of form:
Glory are under tremendous pressure at the moment having registered just one win in their past eight matches. They have slumped to eighth on the table, out of the six for the first time and desperately searching for some form. They have lost two of their past three at home, including last week’s 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Heart.
The Mariners are on an eight-match unbeaten streak and have won their past five, including a massively significant win over Brisbane Roar in Brisbane last week. They have now moved top of the table, three points clear of the Roar with a game in hand. They have won their past four away matches.
Match Committee:
Perth skipper Jacob Burns will sit this one out after picking up a fifth booking for the season. Glory have lost Brazilian ace Andrezinho for a few weeks with a hamstring injury, and he joins the likes of Chris Coyne, Evan Berger, Victor Sikora and Neil Young on the sidelines . Travis Dodd made a return from injury last week and should be better for the run.
The Mariners continue to enjoy a great run with injury and suspensions and should have a full squad to pick from.
Danger men:
Travis Dodd – The start of Dodd’s life as a Glory player has not been easy for the former Red, with injuries allowing him to play just seven matches. Now fully fit again, he has a big role to fill in turning around the Glory’s fortunes.
Mustafa Amini – Amini has taken his game to another level this season, which would make Borussia Dortmund very pleased with the investment they made before loaning him back to the Mariners. He has scored in two of the past three matches and is a menace in most areas of the ground.
At the end of the day…
The Glory are in a real rut at the moment and the pressure is clearly starting to tell. The emotional reaction of both owner Tony Sage and coach Ian Ferguson after the loss to the Heart last week was an indication of the pressure the club has itself under.
There is no shortage of talent in the side, but the issue seems to be the ability for the side to work cohesively across the ninety minutes. While there are periods of good play, there are also plenty of lapses. They look like a team who hasn’t yet jelled despite having 11 matches to get it right.
The loss of Jacob Burns, who provides them with direction going forward as well as plenty of combativeness through the middle of the park is a huge one to cover.
They confront a team in awesome form and with plenty yet to prove despite their win last week.
The Mariners look a team on a mission and their first 45 minutes against the Roar last week was arguably the best half of football produced in the A-League this season.
They have so many players in such good form and are working extremely well together that it’s hard to see how any team, let alone one down on its confidence as Perth, beating them in the near future.
